Three 18-storey residential highrises proposed in South Surrey

City of Surrey staff are reviewing an application and building permit for a cluster of three 18-storey residential highrises and an eight-storey commercial building northwest of The Shops at Morgan Crossing.

The application, which is proposed for 2660 Croydon Dr., was submitted to the city on April 29. The application was submitted as an official community plan amendment to rezone the land and a request for a development permit.

“It is a departure from our official community plan,” said Ron Hintsche, Surrey’s manager of current planning for the south. “The land is situated in our Highway 99 corridor. The current plan calls for business, park and light industry in there, so this would be a change to the plan.”

The proposed development plan lists a total residential floor area of 387,694 sq. ft and commercial floor area of 70,267 sq. ft. The structures would have underground parking.

“Our assessment hasn’t been completed,” Hintsche said. “We are likely looking to move the application forward to council later this fall given that it’s a departure from our plans and policies in this area.

“We will put it in front of council to get some direction.”

Michelle Hayes, who lives near the proposal, contacted the Peace Arch News with concerns about the application.

Sunnyside Elementary School, about four blocks from the proposed development, has reached capacity. Opened in 2013, it has already added four portables to accommodate the students.

“They’ve got a new school that’s essentially (bursting) from the development in the area,” Hayes said.

Hayes mentioned traffic as another possible issue. Currently, it’s a one-lane road on both sides of the parcel of land.

“There isn’t enough sidewalks (and) it’s four-way stops,” Hayes said. “So the very notion of importing that increase in either foot traffic or car traffic is absurd because it can’t even handle the amount of traffic that is in there now.”

A lack of available street parking and public transit is also a concern, she added.

A public hearing for the proposal would not be set until the application is reviewed and supported by council at a land-use session. Residents that live within 100 metres of the property would be notified if a public hearing is scheduled.

The project engineers, Aplin & Martin Consultants, did not return calls for comment by PAN press time Tuesday morning.